Newspaper Page Text
Tha Field Ferces ijf tie Belligerents, Present
and Prospective
For the two yc-urs that the war has pro
gressed the two parties at issue lave muster
ed into the service an immense number of men.
and have kep np armies vastly disproportion
ate to their population. In modern times no
, such armies have ever been brought into the
field, comparing their numbers with the whole
population of the two States. From the out
break of the French Revolution in 1789 to
the final overthrow of Napoleon at Waterloo,
in 1815, France kept up an immense army,
as did also the Continental powers at war with
her—and England too—bnt no such per cent
age of losses wa3 made by the two present
American belligerents. The United States,
first and last, has mastered into its service
thirteen hundred thousand men,or one in every
fourteen of the whole population oi' all ages
and both sexes. The Confederate States have
perhaps had nearly half as many, or one in
every ton of the white population. The drain
upon the materia! strength and resources of
the two ttttjjps has been enormous, but it lias
affected the North more injuriously
than the CiffiTederaey, notwithstanding the
South has furnished a larger proportionate
army, for the reason that a much iarger pro
portion of Union soldiers are producers at
home in time of peace.
Experience has frequently prove i, and never
more conclusively than in the preseat war,
that large armies are not necessarily the most
efficient. The Confederates have almost in
variably contended against large odds, and
yet they have generally been victorious, rhis
has arisen from the superior character of our
soldiers and officers, but is attributable partly
also to the fact that the larger an army is the
more unwieldy and unmanageable it becomes
in the field, while it necessitates also a shorter
line of communication with its base of sup
plies, or else a disproportionate number to
guard that line. The only particular advan
tage we have ever oeeti able to discover us be
longing to the Yankees from their greater
numbers is that they are thus able to keep up
a greater number of distinct large annies, thus
forcing us to divide our armies, also, ur.d to
meet them everywhere with inferior forces, or
else to leave many points insufficiently guarded.
But notwithstandingthis advantage the enemy,
although penetrating and occupying much of
our territory, has never yet. in the weary. long
twenty-seven months of war, accomplished
anything substantial towards tiiecrid for which
the war is waged—the subjugation of oar
country.
After twenty-seven months of active hostil
ities on a most magnificent scale, and without
any material progress of the enemy toward?
the object aimed at, a crisis in the great strug
gle seems possibly near at hand, on which de'
pends the continuance of the war for y<jars, or
its speedy close. The Abolitionists '.eve re
cently gained some advantages, and tip Con
federates have sustained losses. If within a
few .vcelts we can retrieve our disasters, and
the cut my b : broken and discouraged, peace
and ind pendeucq mr.y soon cense. But if, on j
the contrary, the enemy shall gain still furtl r !
advantages, and we suffer greater disasters.,
the struggle will perhaps be continued for
many years longer, for success, evai. ,t
though it be, will tend to inspire the Y .. es
to prosecute the war, while no kind to disast
ers can make the Confederates sue ui>d>, while j
there are men left to defend our homes, or !
bemes to defend. Each combatant will speed-1
ily put forth his utmost strength, and upon |
the result depends uu early peace or an indefi
nite continuance of the war. The Yankees
have beta crazy and irrational during the
whole struggle, and they may still perhaps be
so mad as to throw away their opportunity
for honorable peace, on the gaining of advan- j
tages, still infatuated with the idea of con.
qu.-st, and the belief that they can enslave us.
And thus they may advance again to defeats,
not sufficiently decisive to force them to ac
knowledge us, but sufficiently galling to their
pride to make them continue the contest. And
so, in a feeble, indecisive, see saw fashion the
war may drag its slow length along for years.
But if Charleston holds-out, if Meade's army
can be overthrown, if Johnston s little force
can maintain itself, while Louisiana is recov
ered and Banks driven out, ami Bragg can
successfully receive battle, or, without lighting,
compel Iloscerans and Burnside to fall back,
then Lincoln will be forced to make peace
within a twelvemonth.
Iyce has still a large army of war-worn \ et
eraus, not a particle discouraged by their late
rough usage in Pennsylvania. Richmond is
yet protected by a force sufficiently large and
effective for any call that may bo made upon
it. Ample forces still guard the Atlantic
coast, from Suffolk to Fernandina, holding the
Abolition vandals at bay. Bragg has a large
army, second to none upon the Continent in
all soldierly qualities. Joe Johnston has a
considerable force, the very flower of Southern
and Western chivalry : and beyond the Mis
sissippi are gathered the stalwart wan iors of
the prairies and the wilds, every man of them
prepared to prove himself a hero under the
galiant Price, Magruder, Kirby Smith and
Taylor. The casualties of battle, though se
vere, have scarcely reduced our effective
strength within the past six months, for none
of oar troops are going out of service, the con
scription is daily replenishing the losses by
i sickness and battle, although the men beyond
forty have not yet been called for, and our ex
change account still shows a balance in our
favor. At the opening of the new year we
were stronger than ever before, and we are
not a particle weaker to day. We have still
the conscripts bet ween forty and forty-five to
call into the field, not to speak of the boys
every day becoming liable to enrollment—and
then we have all the able-bodied reserves, of
whatever age, who can and will cheerfully take
the field when their services are needtd.
The Yankees have still their Army of the
Potomac, shattered and decimated, watching
Lee but afraid to strike, and apprehensive of
the loss of Washington and their own destruc
tion. Grant and Banks have perhaps 100,000
men between them—Rosecrans and Burnside
perhaps and equal number. Add to these fifty
thousand for Dix, Foster and Gillmore, and
we have the whole effective Yankee, force ex
cept the garrisons of Washington and Balti
more. and a few brigades in Missouri and Ar
*kansa.* Disease and battle thin the enemy's
ranks more rapidly than ours, in the propor
tion of about three to two, regiments are eve
ry week being mustered out of service, volun
teering is absolutely dead, aud conscription is
their only resource for filling the ranks. If
we prove successful the conscription cannot be
enforced—and if the enemy meet successes it
is still donbtful of enforcement, for half the
North is opposed to the policy of the war and
! inclined to peace, and no amount of probable
success can banish from any of their minus a
lingering misgiving that any day the tide may
turn against them. Ponder the matter,
Southrons, and say, is there any ground for
despondency on our part ?
LETT til FROM I’EWHVLVA.MA.
tHAMugtvSBUKB, Pa., June 29 :b.
Editor Savannas Kspdblicaw: I’U take tma
chance to crop you these lines, but I can't sav
mat they will ever react yo t—our mail c»mtnu
nication ts now probably done for some time, I
hope not forever. It is no longer a myth, we are
among the Dutch of Peansylvania. The country
surpasses m improvement ana evidences of com
fort anything I ever saw in my life. Ererv spot of
it almost is under the mast iborjuga cultivation
and plenty—even superabundance—is everywhere,
she class of people are rather of a low order, and,
wilh ail the appearance of progress, are very far
behind the age in intelligence. In fact they ere
nothing but simple farmers, whose greatest uspi
ration u comfort. This is particularly evidenced
in the character of tne buildings, w hich are all
plain and substantial, constructed on stone with
out an exception devoid ot archiitetura! display,
she barns .re invariably the larges - , end it acy
tbitig tbe most highly finished house on each
larmer’s premises. Every one has r.is wonderful
big granary to contain tee immense abundance
of gram winch annually flows ic from tbejruil'
tul fields arouuu it. Such sp'eouid praspects lor
harvesi I never saw, aud if the resources f.,r sup
ply is os great throughout the Sor.h as it is here
—act i suppose it is—there is little wonder that
eve:) .hiug is so cheap.
For two days now itat we have travelled into
I their country, we have pasted one I.mg succession
! o! golden wheat belds, excepting where perilous
wort Or voted ro hav maxing, which were tfce
finest prospects of the kind 1 cave yet seen. Tee ;
people are circumscribed, as I bare said, in their I
1:10 Tigencr. and know utile ot the war or its]
ravages, being simple mir. l-d sot of dupes to the ,
Washington dyna. ty. Tucir sutpusr and eun«
sttrnation knew 110 bour.ue when 'tier found out
that the “ragueo rebec " weie uetoa iy n ihen '
midsi livi’gaaii nioviu.r tr.ousters and lovrj fiou-en. I
■il neGoi" was on eveiv tongue, xpressing to? !
hopeless detpuir water. Weighed down every i
. Do r.l .lean, she old wuA.au weot.ntuli Sana I
t eld uini rocked tlisc.s ..es ..to; tte.r whs j
,a heir .d ancestral rotk...g caairs, dastuiriag '
ct another day ot existence ihei were ready ■
tog ve up any .Ding ihhv had to :uj •'devouring l * '
creatures that presented ihemseires at the doors, j
r.>c.-c . 1. y ba t-g it tuey val anything to sail.
1 1 l.e.r ..... p'i j via. greai w.-en ibey were not I
cur', 0 1 ..uv feiueious demonvrat.ons of appe» ;
tt:« laia e . iln-.it actual pelsonagea. They grew !
I .ante wcnd-iluliy last, and in a short tinie pru
i ; ..xed that they «ete democrats, peace peop.e and ;
: ■.ur fri< nds This class » e touau in tbe country, i
| uui our reception in Cbc wuersburg, which is!
H’.i.ie a ai a and flourishing Ci'y, v,a£ very d,f- i
lerent indeed.
there Seem d to be u superabundance of v ■ .-> :u,
the eiffjpring of; n education iron the mi* ia .le
abolition sheets and ami.siuvny speeches waicb j
bad been d.cg-donged iu'o the.'.] ir ini time toi«
ii.emori.il. wish long»laced men 1 never saw, |
aud the ..atiin-s 'if the wvoien would hare made 1
vinegar ani'aineu of iiself fur sourness. Seme I
tvrea.ned ioe.r pretty lips in ugly -corn ana I
I turned up nir nos is us 1. eveiythmg they saw be- ’
ore" ID’.u. Wxi eulctsive tel incur oila .ty 1 ■.CJ- 1
lent. These • xprrasions gave tie- to . ucn j
au.ulenitat la tbe- ranks, uuo feme o! toe si arp- i
vet cunt were dealt to them 07 that inexh:.asta» I
ole source < t tun—.tie soldiers' wit. Tfc town!
licks have promised u« a good thiaehmg before I
we leave bet: Their ureal wonde.-, th*y Say, ,s 1
i that we wer • sued toots as 10 undertake’ such a j
laing in iuvushid —that we Wuuidbeeurround
ed and cut olf, and not one woitidg';: hues to 1
tell lb'ale. Wa r plied that ail thai might be !
true, but worn Gcti. Lee "as surrounded and
couid'i get on', there would oe iooie Yankees
hurl thin ever were hurt at any one time. A
victory for th'-m will be so dear mat the ven j
name t v.o'.orv brings a pang to tbeir hearts. |
1 am disp . ed to tbinx, and 1 rather tbiuh !
they do a: to, that it wdl t-e an awfol job to re- 1
more the stubborn Coniederaies from among j
them. But what he intends to do lam do more |
able to say than the su.pidest darker on anv ■
Southern plan.atiou, Us fools evaryhruy, wen I
. cut well-informed President Davis, i b-iicve.
Ewell has preceded ns and got most of the good
■ things that .ay in the path of the comjutior—
! such as shoes aud cloihing gen. rally, hut an
abundance of provisions is found svtrywheie.
, From the number of fowls that have made their
appearance in camp today I am disposed to
thick our men have been 'interfering wnh the
1 roosts. Tins would be a just retaliation for the
same thing committed by their troops tu our
country. iluwcver, there is .-oaething so dm
■ gracetui and low in ibis kind 01 robbery and
, vandalism over the helpless that I cannot but
applaud (j 11. Dee's strong efforts 10 suppress it.
1 Only such things as are really necessary for our
j progress aud supply is allowed to be tskeu, and
then our cuneticy is offtred at ihe.r market price
1 for them lo refuse or take as they thins proper.
. But many of the farmers have eluded cur search
Ur hones, having fl.d with them to the nioun»
! tains to bide. Detachments will be sen' ufier
i them. Sruie of the gentlefolks raise guile a storm I
shout the Q i ittertuaf ers ears when he conies '
wild the caws that, *• I must have your horse,
sire’ J1 st about then the rebels art spoken
ta very unpleasant Dutch terms. But the good
hiitrtircc Qt.. ter muster takes the animal u.icose iy,
hand-. It.in the Confederate money acu gallops j
, away ; whereupon th« enraged Dutchman in great
wrath «lt. . oys the money, and just ad.s that
much vre: 1:p the Southern cause. Oor resent- I
nttni g- w» ve:y strong when we think how!
much \a: -Utp has been pract.ceJ in Virginia,
but wt -a ■ vi lies to practice it upon defenceless !
wornec, c rca ana old rico, a true SomLern !
soidiei ,tne not find heart to do it.
I ferr there are some in our ranks who have |
been unmerciful, but it ran not be discovered who j
they or thrwi uid be punished. Orders are 1
very s'rtc. ar. ,i read every day to the troops against ■
vandul'sic, Gen. ’,ee is magnaditnotts to the ■
peit; e. Incur uiprccnrse wiih the natives we
nave found ./uly a few whom we might say art
•uc irieud.s iad not practicing duplicity for pros
tection. There is scuething tbout their cordial
ity - hat stetiis sincere, but the went of fidelity m
■l.oae who are scared into friendship for us is ap
parent at first sight. If I had ti.ue I would detail
incidents which might ba interesting, but th.
only opportunity afforded for sending a letter is
justs - , band. A discharged soldier will attempt
to-morrow to run through before our communi
oation is entirely cane. These scraps of paper
are all we now have at band and if you cannot
decipher the hieroglyphics on them, consign the
whole to that fatal omnium gatherum for al: such
trasb, and be content to wait tiii it is possible to
do better. Tout le Monde.
From the Appeal.
Letter front Chattanooga.
The army continues motionless, with the excep
tion us several brigades moving to the new en
campments assigned to them. A portion of
Polk’s corps is encamped at Tynar’s station on the
Knoxville road, about nine miles trout ibis point.
Armstrong's brigade of cavalry aave gone to
Athens, Tennessee.
Frcm scouts ana others immediately from Mid
dle Tennessee, and seme from the vicioitv of
Nashville, 1 learn that Rosecraas’ army is also
motionless. The headquarters of the commander
of the Yankee army have been established at Tub
labotbs. A brigade of infantry with a small force
of cavalry aud aruliery are at McMinnytlie. No
Yankees were this side of the mountains at last
accounts.
Rorecrana, in bis iaie order from Tullabr ma.
is gu Ity of me creates', mendacity in character
ising ae retreat of Bragg’s ui’.ay e.3 a rou\
Never wasa retreat manag.d and execute! with
greater ceLbe.-u.ion or gooa cider. Nothing was
lost, save woat was purposely destroyed beiore
1 retroga i. utg n.and the desertions t«.v*
| been Chn:para;.re,y lew uader the c.rcumsiunces.
1 I n jtice iha. or.e or two ci.rrespocden.3 mention
! the d.-ser’.iot ct lUiebr.'S of Tennis.-seans. TUse
[ reports are without tbe slightest l: andition in
j fact. It may possibly have been conjectured
1 thei to b.- Withdrawn from tbeir native Suie
without striking a decisive blow for her de tLCe.
the Tenuessea-i would become disgusted and
quit the service in the very recklessness of their
depair. Rut they did n: tdo so.
I have conversed with one or two div sion com
manders of Tennessee troops, and have been
assured that but lew stragglers fiom tbeir res
pective commands were left oehmd. Qtne as
many, if not more, soldiers from other States
have deserted, but altogether, the number ot ab
sentees is trifling. The Tennesseeans patiently,
cheerfully, bravely submitted to the reverse, and
retreated much against tbeir will, I know, but
without a murmur of complaint, further than
wa3 common with the soldiers of the entire army.
Every time the army baa fallen back trom Ten
nessee, some sballow-pated newsmonger, “jump
ing at conclusions,” has been found ready lo in
dulge in a "fling” at tbe Tennesseans. If they,
tbe “news gossips,” tbink their calumnies Will
be passed by in sitence, they are laboring under
tbe falsest of delusions. VVe have suffered too
much already from these unjust r< ports, and tbe
pen will not be idle in future in denouncing
tbete raise charges, and in showing up tbeir au
thors its the true light.
1 And tbe tollowmg d.spatch in the Nashville
b.spatcn ct the 4th inst:
TuLLAaoMA, July 1, via Xoxma.vut, July S.—The
2i Kentuckv cavalry, toe advance of B-annan's
division, and the 33th Indiana mounted infantry,
the advance of Mendau’s diviaicn, entered Tulla
homa at noon to-day. Wheeler’s rebel cavalry,
the rear guard of the enemy, left the place as
they entered. The town :s entirely evacuated;
only one s ild.er and two dozen cit 7. .as remained.
Oen. Bragg left Tullah .ma last night, the mam
rebel arin'v leaving a; the same hoar, retreating
on the Winchester road.
Cincinnati papers of tie 2d last, mention the
1 destruction of a traiu of passenger cars on the
Jj'iii'vuie and Lexington railroad, by a party of
[ nine Hou -iern guerillas. The aimed "U lue train i
was aijd> near (Jr.run anb-irg, She oy county, j
Ky., t-L 'hr 'file gnerii.as burned the cars, I
tumbled ’.he locum uve ■ "vr a high embanks
u.eu', and carried of! the said r -‘ the Adams Ei- I
press C luipaar. 1 s well as the United Suites mail, j
1 hty also toot a . me arms in the possession of •
M»e p .essßge-c. The guti il.as eia ed that they |
had u Ores of ’run iua~.it band to ~:d them if
rCtiaianec was fared; but it appears their -a- j
verve was sr brought into requisition, os 'ha
piisengerj • »,)>. ■ m rendered T;,.- matl. ->U ot '
weitni, in'. :’an one, a stilted tor F In
LeXtcgtoa, and p lints farther east. deubtussa '
cotta a>d ic ii nderahle amount ot to >y. j
l hear . >u»:ng this morn.ng coocern ug John
Me . ran a .id 0.- men, save conil.t hag rumors, as I
the ..-ei: Many person? believe Du tie is a’-eady j
setofa the On I bare it from the bigh-st of
ficial tiboiifv. *b»; Cuinp Cuasv w.is the destin- I
ation ot the tx. e iiii'ih. ’ Shadow. |
TUI'. '•!A«0\ AND CUMV.VI COJUIESI'O'V-!
IIUC'E
I T; i r .Aer vi” be mtucs, remarks tbe Rich-'
| o' na e'en tne'. with •. ■ following ■ *r ?t in '
, bl« ter -w)nti«nce b«. a . r, Vr. Mar.au, ~u; Cum- j
! r Eugi-ud, ■ Rev. 31 I). C inway, |
I »a-> o iai :i:e ntnliv. of the radical|
jA r- . ifß.r i I.' 'be Un tad Stttw The latter!
I dioiiucily : opoaes .r. t the Confederate S'utes ,
I trlii consent . i emancipation, 'heir independence j
, slu-ti b- uckaowfed r- i umi the war sLal! cea.fr. j
Thu will ue patp .o.e r.root t« tbe pease men o' •
Uio North '.an'ti.w-.’r is indeed not for the I
, •y.'trirns .. .. Sa,;.” ui ‘‘iLe Union,” bat "tor!
| the 1: ;» ■ wliii the peace u.in charge, I
j ami it u west it . Conway, speaking far those be j
1 represents, aaiors.
j 2 Ji : .t Editor of tiu London 'iim s-Sttt : As;
! part if the ;i sit cel history of the times, the cor* j
j respondeat • irunsm tiled herewith ntay have suf- !
I tic tent_ :....L ;e to cnU lor tta publication, ii
) suba.it t: t roc accordingly to: a place in vour j
j COluOlCi. ' |
I am, sir, verr respectfully,
Your obe die at servant,
J. M. Mason.
|24 Uri'Et Seymour Street, Porimas's ciiuaee, '
its. coxway’s letter.
Aubrey House, Xottmg Hill, [
L ’ndou, \V., June 10,3803 )
| 8w: I have authority to make the to. lowing
j ptoposttion ' n becult oi the anti-slavery men oi
| Annrica, r.-fco bare sent me to this country,
i If the States cal.mg theatselTes *TLp Confaders
. ate States oi Amelina'' will consent to emancipate
toe negro slaves in those States, suen em-.ucipa
tion to be guaranteed by the liberal European
commission, the emancipation to be inaugurated
at once, ana such time to be allowed for its com*
plition as the commission shall adjudge to be
necessary and just, and such emancipation once
made to be irrevocable—then the abolitionists
ami anti-slavery leaders of the Northern States
shall immediately oppose the prosecution of the
war on tr,e part of ihe United States Governtnen t,
sod since they hold the balance of power, will
certainly cause the war to .ease bv the mime*
diate withdrawal of every kmd of support from it.
1 know that the ultimate decision uoonso grave
a proposition may require souse time;’but mean
while I beg to be infotnied at your ear.y conve
nience whether you will personally lend your
influence in fuvrr of a restoration of p t ace and
tbe independence ot the South upon the simple
basis of the emancipation of the slaves.
Any guarantee of my own responsibility ami
! my right to make this cti'er shall be forthcoming.
Montcek JL>, Conway.
J. Id. Mason, Esq.
SIR. MASON*3 REPLY.
X 24 Upper Setmour ot ,)
Pori man Square, June 11, IS6C. )
Sir: 1 i.ave ycur "note ot yesterday. The pro*
posit! n it c'rtains is certainly worthy of the
| gravest consideration, provided" it is made under
! a proper responsibility. Ye:, yen runs: be aware
that, while ton now fully dm" representative po*
I sitios 1 occ-n ,t. I have r-ut .he like assurance as
lrerardsyoiirs.lt.
If you" think proper, therefore, to communicate
to ies wbc Hose are on wfcrse behalf und author;*
ty you make the proposition referred it., with the
evidence of your "‘right to make this offer,” I will!
at once give you mv reply., the character of which, j
! however, must depend on wLi.t I may iearn oi j
ycur amhontv in the Eternises.
J. M. Mason?
Mgncuee D. Coxway, Esq.
mr. Conway’s answer.
Auep.et House, Nottinu Hill, W., 1
June Id, 1863. )
Sir—Your note of the 31th has been received,
l could easily give you the evidence that I reps >
i resent tbe views of ’.Le leading Abolitionists of
America, bat wt’h regard to the special offer
' which I have made I have concluded that it was
; bt-s. to write out to America ana obtain tbe evi
dence of mv right to make it’ la a form which
I will preclude any doubt as to its sufficiency. I
! shall then address you again oa toe subject,
i Moscuae D. Conway,
| J. M. Mason, Esq.
me. mason closes the coeees?ox2ence.
No. 24 Uppeb Seymocb et., 1
Portmaa Square, June 17, 16t>3. j
• | Pie—l have received your note of yesterday.
• You need not write to America to “obtain the
f evidence” of your right to treat on the matter it
: imports. Our correspondence closes with this re
. plv. It was your pleasure to commence it, it is
i mine to terminate it.
I I desire to know who they were who were re -
‘, possible for your mission to England, as yon pre
■! sent it, and who were to confirm tbe treaty you
| proposed for arresting tbe war in America, on the
' | Dasis of a separation of tbe States, with or with*
■ j out tbe sanction of tbeir government. Put 6uch
‘; information is of the less vilue now, as I And
. irom an advertisement in tbe journals of ihe dar,
: ; mat you have brought to England letters of suffi
j c ent credit from loose wlo sent you to invite a
I public meeting in London, under the sanction of
, a member cf Parliament, who was to preside, to
| Lear au address front you on the subject of vour
mission, witn the promise of a like address irom
' bira.
I This correspondence shall go to the public,
i at A will find us way to the country, a c’a.-s of:
i the citizens of which you e'am to repr.s: It
! will. perhaps, interest tbe government aud the
'' *c* di/a-tl “loyal men ’ there to snow, under tbe 1
sanction of your name, that the lealmg Auxi. j
: S.avery men in America are prepared to nego-'
; tiate with the authorities ot tbe Confederate I
j Slates for a restoration of peace and tbe iude- :
j endence of the South, on a pledge that tbe Abo- I
i utionists and anti-slavery leaders of tbe North- \
j ern States shall immediately oppose tbe prosecu
,' tioa of the war on tbe part tne United States
Government, and, since they hold tbe balance of
power, will certainly cause the war to cease, by
ibe immediate withdrawal ot every kind of sup
port from it.
As some reward, however, for this interesting
: disclosure, your inquiry wuether the Coufede
ra e States will consent to emancipation on the
terms stated shall not go wholly unanswered.
You may be assured, then, and perhaps it may be
ofvaiueto your constituents to assure them,
that tbe Northern States will never be in rela
tions to put the question to the South, nor will
tbe Southern States ever be in a position require
ing them to give an answer. J. ii. Mason - .
Moncube l). Conway, Esq.
To the People of the Confederate States of
America.
Ai the late session of the Baptist Convention
of ;ae State ot Georgia, the undersigned were
1 appointed a committee to adaress you on the
subject of educating the orphan children of cur
deceased soldiers. The bare statement of the
subject is sufficient to stir the apmputhv of the
patriot and the Christian. We desire to present!
briefly a few simple considerations.
1. The number of orphans who are thus
thrown upon the enlightened benevolence of the
public makes this a most momentous subject.
We have no means of making a correct esitma-e
of the number, but it is certainly very large. It
has been estimated we do not know" with what :
accuracy) that two hundred thousand of our sol
diers have been killed, or have died of wounds or
diseases incurred in the service. A large proper- j
tion of these were men of family, with ch.ldren
of all ages. Fur twenty years the education of
• th-se orphans must be going on. Alauyofihei
Soldiers were poor and ;he children, in log ng
their lather, have lost their all. May we not hope !
j that in »sc wfatse lives cud liberty and honor and ,
pr periy have been .saved by the sacrifice of the ,
} lather will feel it to be a duty and a pleasure to :
1 euppiv, in part at icasi. .hat father’s care by se- i
, curing an education tthe child ? The Work •
j i’iJeea is vast, aud ot long duration; but vast,!
: pad long duration a u will bs the bench C”U- 1
! terred upon the ebudrim and ’he blessing er
! joyed by those who a ; them. “Pure religtcn luU :
j iindtC.ed before Co t and the Father is to
visit the widow and orphan ta their alfl.cti ,a.’’ |
'2. The masoer in which these orphans .ire'
j t.tratro upon car eve a; ; 1 s to us wuh greater I
1 iorce than auj- argument, i.ud stands m .. i;e 0 f
I aileloquence. JT. .. fz.Urt di d fjt ns. Leev-
I mg their uumb.e homos, but homes in which |
; there dwell peace, p,.s>;, and love, they bared]
| their bcs< ms to the - .; battle and exp wed'
1 tneicselves to a., the Lard-hips and privations o:
, th:- 0. si Larb.roui w_r. Oc ihe fcattletield ".o'
( ; •J, or in‘the loathsomu hospital tu.’t ;
, dr t, or on the cold ground wb.-r# ice or mod 1
was hardly covered by straw inty orealhtdl
their last; and .or us and our children they)
‘ SKC'iliced themselves. The last thought of many
j ot then was of the loved ones at home, soon to !
oe deprived of a parent’s support, Jefferson in ;
il i s last tucimeals ; tou, “I leave mv ecu! to my
; God, and my daughter ta my country.” Here is j
i a more solemn legtey. Let the c; entry accept I
j Deques: of these orphans, and the God of toe j
! (atherlee* will bless it for their soke.
; 3. The future Site of these thousands of or- \
phana is a matter ol’ unspeakable interest. r>iiali i
: may be permitted to g 1 w up m idleness, ignor- ;
i -mce acd vice ? If so, what nrsery wilt be theirs ? ■
; 'i he burial it” ds ol Meiiustm and Shiloh, of .Mai ’
! vern Hill and Mary’s Heigh s, of Murlreesbaro’ !
, and Sharpsburg, erv aloud m remonstrance. A
I grateful people will r.ot allow the children ol
j taeir ma.-tjred heroes to be ieft to that worst of
. al tin, woes of orphanage, the ignorance and
j vie? that attend neglected youth.
4. The dtstmy o: the c uutry is inseparably
conceited with the welfare ot these orphans. Our
armv has been Comp’ sed of our people, and in
the uext generation the children ot our soldiers
will be the ;eop!t; a large proportion being
these very children of the dea, la be halt ot
whom we make this appeal. Ii ignorance and
vice shall be their lot, luese will be largely the
tenarae’eria ics of the 1 eoplc. If heretofore .n\ ■
ligence aud virtne were rightly styled the pibars
ot our Republican institutions, now especially
must these pillars be sustained in beauty unit
strength, or the new tetupie of our freedom, ce
mented by the blood of so many battle fields,
will have been reared in vuin and worse than in
vain. We must maintain Republican institu
tions, or we shall become the prey of military
despotism. For us there is no middle ground.
If we would uphold the former, we must culti*
vate virtue and intelligence ; aud there can be
no more certain road to the latter than to aban
don our youth to ignorance and vice. For the
6ate of our country then, as welt as our own and
theirs, are invoked to educate these orphans.
It does not fall within the province assigned to
us to indicate how this holy and subtime and
pious and patriotic duty may best be done. Oilier
and wiser and more influential persons will in
vestigate this problem. “When mere is a will
there is away.” And we trust that when you
consider your obligations to the dead who died
for you, and you; obiigatioas to the living who
now appeal to you with the unspoken eloquence
of orphanage and destitution, and your obliga
tions to your children to whom you must trauss
mi', freedom and peace or despotism and war, and
your obiigatioas to your ccuuffy, which in the
very throes of her lifcsstruggle ’ plead for the
children of her slam, and your obligations espe
cially to the- Gieat Gjq who has fought our bat
tles for us and places in our care these orphans
as His own children ; surely when you consider
these obligations, we trust, each man will say
■’God helping me ! I wth do what I can.”
May the Father of the fatherless pleaS for these
orphans 1
Jesse IT. Campbell,
Thomas Stocks. ;
d’ak.-hall J. Wellbobv, ,’Committee.
B. F. Tkafp, 1
N. M. C’EAWFOBD.
The Columbus Times urges the necessity of
convening the Legislature for the purpose of
amending the militia laws, so that all persons be
tween the ages of sixteen and fifty-five be called
out at once and put under arms. The News en
dorses the movement, The times seem to de«
1 maud it,
Narrow Escape of Gen- Wright.
A letter front Maryland Heights to the New
. York Herald, dated the 29th ultimo, coutaina
the following.
About noon to-day, as Lieut. ATartindale
and ms eight men were returning from their
adventure, when only a short distance from
rs-eedysville they met Gen. Wright and staff.
Oi tne Rebel army, all of whom, exceot the
General, they captured a.r.d brought away
Their names are:
Lieutenant W. A. Wright Ordnance officer,
S en G.^ right ' 3 st£fr ’ Anderson's Division, A.
xr. Mills corps d'annee.
Second Lieut. G. P. Phi’.pot, Seventh Vir
ginia Cavalry Regiment, Jones’ Brigade Stu
arts corps. ’
Orderhes: Private S. C. Smith, Sergeant
vVm ii. 0 Beirnes, Seventh Virginia Cavalry
ana Col. Dulaney. _ ■"
Lieut. Wright is a son of Gen. Wright’
and was indeed an object of pity. His right
leg had been amputaied above the knee af
ter the second Bull Run battle, and he ’rode
with his crutches strapped to his saddie
j Gen. Wright was the only one of the party
I “at escaped, and he has to thank the nim
; ole hmb3 of his racing mare for hi 3 present
j sa.ety. Seven shots were fired after him as
i fie ran, and Lieut, ifartindale thinks one of
' mem took effect, but is not certain.
We publish the above as we find it, with
I the remark, that none ot the officers above
! named are of Gen. Wright's staff, except his
j son, and we have tbo assurance from a mem
| her of the General's staff mat all are safe ex
i ce P ; son, who was taken prisoner.
Ihe Attack on Charleston.
The a-sault Saturday morning on Battery Wan.
ner, and the fceaTy bombardment kept upon that
wont be the Monitors and wooden gunboats (cr
several hours Saturday and Sunday-, Das demon
strated tally that the enemy has to
make his present movement a decisive attack on
onr city.
About daylight Saturday morning the enemy
made their first determined assault on Bane y
Wagner, the centre fortißcation of Morris’ Island.
It was nr douot intended to be a surprise. The
assault WiS led by lour companies of the Seventh
Connecticut, supported on the right and left by
the Ninth Maine and Seventv-sixiu Pennsylvania
rtguients, with the Third New Hampshire Forty,
eighib New Yo k and Sixth Connecticut, in rea
serve—in ah, between four and five thousand men.
The iront line advanced oravelv up to the battery"
our men, according to previous orde-s, reserving’
| their lire until the enemy had got withiu musket
I range, wLeu * terrible bre of grape, canister and
musketry opened npon the advance. Some few of
I the foremost companies rushed forward only to
be shot down or taken pr.soners. The havoc in
| the front line caused the others to waver but fur a
momen., when they retreated preciointely u ap-'
parent contusion back behind ihe sand bills. ‘
The enemy’s loss is estimated to have been at
'least fully live hundred. One hundred ol hiß
I dead lay d.recily in front of the battery, one bun.
•lred and thirty unhurt and about eigaty wound*
I«d were taken prisoners. The commanding otfi.
; cer of the assaulting e uumn, General Strong, is
reported by the prisoners to be Seriously wounds
l ed. ihe las; seen ot aim he had fallen from his
I horse an t was carried oil the held by h’s men.
Severe, other officers of the enemy are reported
| by’.he prisoners to be either killed or b»diy
wounded—among them Lieut. Hodman, Captaiu
, i heodore Burdick, Lieut. J.»Lq vVilsoq, of iho
: 7ih Connecticut, and Major John W. Micks of
Seventy »six''a -’eunvylvauia. Among toe
officers, prisoners, unhurt, me Capt. L». B. idoog.
, lino, Ca, t. \ . it. Chamberlain, Lieut. W fc’
f’diihpa. I. out. L. C. Jordon, all of the Seventh
! Connecticut, and Lieut. L. VV. Ware, Ninth
; Maine. Oar loss was reported to be five killed
and ten wountfcd.
The ;.;!..oner* report their loss ot the previous
: day about b iy killed and wounded,
I
TUU B 'M.'iARDMEN'T SUNDAY,
i TLi' v.' maiir - :i.ont ot Batt?ry Wagner was rei
, ncwed M>mlav torenuou, uk mt tea o'clock, b/
tt.KK of ihe llomtore, assisted utterwttids by two
i wooden gunboati". i hr.ng was rely heavy
j had he.- up f i-s .veiul mars. The enemy fired
| rapidly, >ut w. d,y, eiicii ■.’} only an ocmioa.il
reapoua from too forts oa .Joins Island anil
For. dec.ter. Oor casualties through the dav
re two h.lled and three wounded. One snot
i front Fort .-m inter is said to Lave taken tffee: on
one ot i gunboats, av she Immediately after
j Being btuu-k moved off, evidently laboring Tery
naio, as I her machinery was damaged. Thu
enemy struck the l.ttfe steam, t fuanlgault mico
j Sunday forenoon, causing some httl* damage t 0
! the machinery, itauv rtitnore were afloat met a
. Monitor was badly damaged in vtur .e'irgiigL’n.e.tt
| Sunday. Toe report of one Using criopltd t.n
i Saturday was correct. She was tmytd off by two
I transports Saturday evening, and has not riuco
j made her appearance.
Tn Yankee land forces composing »he present
j expedition are under the command of Gtu tal
tjdtmore. Admiral Oah’gr ea commands he
I dret.
■ A demonstration was made by the enemy on
■oaturdav or James Island, They shelled the
woods very briskly for about one hour. A repott
was in circulation that a light had taken place on
Su.-day morning at secessionvilir, which proved
u.vrue. The story pro.ably sprung from the
wounding of private George Allen of the Thirty*
second Georgia. An ularni was given that the en
oiny win advancing, and Allen, who was picket
ing arose to leave Iba piaee where he was await
ing orders. While rising he was rnis'aktn for a
J aukee and tired upon by one of our dild, the
shot producing a very serious wound in the leg.
THE EX Iter'S Raids on tub coast.
We have been kindly furnishes with the fol
lowing particulars by a gentleman just from
Jaeksonboro’. ot the late raid of the enemy on
Wiltowa and ihe JackSLnbaro’ bridge :
Early ou Fr.day morning last, tor e of the ene
my's gunboats steamed up toward Wiitown Bluff.
Auer ergigiog a section ts Schultz's Battery,
hey succeeded in landing and carried off a num
ber of negroes belongmg to Mr. Heyward Maai
gaalt. Twaof the gunboats after removing the
obstacles in the river, passed up tue river, end
when opposile Or. Glover’- plantation their pro
gress w.s checked by a section of Capt. Walter's
battery, (Washington Artillery.) under command
of Lieut. S. G. Horsey. After a brisk fight of
about 45 minutes, at a distance of about 450
yards, the boats were so damaged as to be com
pelled to draw off Or e boa:, supposed to be tee
Planter, was so much cnpDlrd that she sunk oa
her way down.— Conner, 13 ih.
The Macon (Ga.) Teiegrapb says :
The bombardment in Charleston harbor, is we
learn, distinctly heard along half the iine of the
Central Railroad, eg lar up as the ninety mile
station and eren higher. The watchman at the
station ever the river reports .hat be heard the
guns distinctly on Tuesday night, and this w r u!d f
ue a distance, as the crow flits, of no; less than |
two honored and fifty or sixty miles. We think
it net improbable in a still night and with a favor
able wind the noise of these ministers of abolition
wrath may be and-b.e in this city.
i THE RECORD.
: rrv<E fourth nnmter. a supplement rs fou’-extra
. X ' aces, appa.*? tO'rtay. (Ttcrsasy,) July 9th, 1862.
! kittle Its fTOta FTasfr's Mack-wood an l ! ether
> i’c -.in J« urnala. art among the cocients.
i The object of i* to suppiy for the Confederate
hides a Niles* V. nek;y . ir .er enu Liu*. .*» LiviLii Aye
cotnlitned. ,
i' Kim s all iTprrUnt information concerning the Army
ar.tl Navy, aci ronicie of events. P<V.al and Paten* Oftc«
iniel able Fin»'-oiai anicles, anu a select literary
. bjai.qrief O’ Essay?, Sketches, <*•:.
Its eircnla'ton already ensures ita hii.liant success,
hubscrlntzou. sl9 pai uaauin; 45 lor six months:-Invari
ably in advance! Audrc-s»
W£sT * JOHNSTON, Publishers,
Tl- * i4£ Main fetreet, Richmond. Va»'
CANDLES! CANDLES J I
>-A BOXES of Prime Sommer Tallow CANDLFS—
t V7 expressly mannr.cturedlor the season.
—Aptiy at 418 Broad street, Jyß